ANAPLASMA 



50t 



Genus Smithia Fran9a, 1910. 



Definition. — Pear-shaped forms, not in pairs, occupying the whole diameter 

 of the corpuscles. Forms crosses. 



Type Species. — Smithia microti Fran9a, 19 10. 



Other Species. — -In addition to Smithia microti Franga, 1910, found in 

 Microtus arvalis, there is S. talpcB Galh-Valerio, 1913, in Talpa emopcea. 



Genus Anaplasma Theiier, 1910. 



Definition. — Coccus-like parasites, round or oval in form, apparently con- 

 sisting wholly of chromatin, and devoid of cytoplasm. Flagellate forms said to 

 exist. 



Dias and Aragao consider these organisms to be degenerations of red cells. 

 Type Species. — Anaplasma marginale. 



Anaplasma marginale Theiier, 19 10. 



Coccus-like parasites situated near the margin of the corpuscles. 



Morphology. — Round or oval parasites consisting only of chromatin sub- 

 stance, sometimes situated in a paler zone of the corpuscle. Multiply rapidly, 

 and invade 40 to 50 per cent, of the corpuscles. 



Life-History. — It is spread by the ticks Eurhipicephalus decoloratus and 

 E. simus, and possibly passes through the egg. 



Cultivation. — Veglia claims to have cultivated this organism on defibrinated 

 blood media. 



Pathogenicity. — It causes a disease like red water, but different therefrom 

 in that animals immune against red water are susceptible to it. Clinically, 

 it causes a severe type of illness, with fever, anaemia, and diarrhoea, with 

 yellow faeces and urine. The blood shows anisocytosis, poikilocytosis, poly- 

 chromasia, and basophilia. The post-mortem appearances are anaemia with 

 jaundice, enlarged and yellow liver, inspissated bile, and enlarged spleen. 



Anaplasma marginale var. centrale Theiier, 1912. 

 Like A. marginale, but situate towards the centre of the cell. Type of 

 illness milder than the above form. 



Anaplasma canis Basile, 19 12. 



Cocci-like forms and crescent-shaped bodies free and enclosed in cor- 

 puscles found in peripheral blood, liver, spleen, and lungs of dogs around 

 Messina. Large form 4*9 by 2-3 fjL observed, provided with a fiagellum 

 measuring 5 ^. 



Pathogenicity. — Causes canine anaplasmosis. 



Genus Achpomatieus Dionisi, 1898. 



Definition. — Piroplasmida; with easily visible but not voluminous cytoplasm, 

 sickle shaped, pyriform or rounded. Schizogony in red cells. Many mero- 

 zoites. Large solitary parasites. 



Type Species. — A. vesperuginis Dionisi, 1898, 



Achromatious vesperuginis Dionisi, 1898. 



This parasite was found by Dionisi in the noctule in 1 898. Sambon classifies 

 it as a Piroplasma, but this is doubted by Nuttall and Graham-Smith, as well as 

 by Dionisi, though they report pyriform endocellular parasites from blood films 

 from bats of the genus Vesperugo, and Nuttall and Graham-Smith report four 

 pyriform parasites in a corpuscle. Gonder, however, believes that it is in some 

 intermediate position between the Plasmodidae and the Piroplasma, and Nuttall 

 and Graham-Smith consider that further investigations are necessary before 

 it can be classified. We agree with Gonder, and consider the parasite to 

 be neither a Piroplasma nor a plasmodium, and therefore return to Dionisi's 

 original idea of ^ separate genus. Recently it has been studied by Yakimofi, 

 Stolnikoff, and Kohl-YakimofE, who believe that it is a true Piroplasma. 

 Another species is A . gibsoni Patton, 19 10. 



